Doctors offices (especially OBs!!!) should have a designated toddler play space

I don’t think it’s their responsibility to provide care or services for children. I understand they make you wait an hour but if you know this why not bring stuff to keep Your child occupied?

@Desaray not asking for care or services, Simply a safe toddler zone with a few things for them to do (exactly like like pediatricians offices and most dental offices have)! And you must not have a toddler yet haha if you think you can “just bring stuff” to keep a 2 year old occupied for an HOUR in an unfamiliar/cold/boring room haha. Not saying that to be rude at all it’s just the reality of life with a teeny toddler that can’t even speak words/understand you yet 🙂

I do understand and have delt with this many times, and you can absolutely bring items to keep them busy again a pediatric office is tailored to children and most dentists offices are as well but obgyns are for the care of pregnant people so it makes sense that they wouldn’t have toys, you 100% can bring toys or things to keep them occupied because what’s the difference of it being a cold and strange place with your toys or the offices toys it’s still the same thing so if you are worried about it being scary for them I’d think they’d rather have items they are familiar with than stuff from a strange place. If that’s your point, but I’m saying I don’t think it’s the doctors office to provide these things when the office isn’t meant technically for children it’s nice when they do have it but not a requirement. Maybe you can suggest this to your office in the suggestion box if they have one.

@Desaray yeah it’s not so much about the toys as it is just a designated safe space for toddlers which is the point I’m trying to make. For example, most pediatricians have a small section closed in where there’s a little tv/things on the walls for kids to do/busy boards, but the point is it’s a safe space where they can walk/run around and not bug the rest of the people in the waiting room/so it’s not as much of a bother to all the other adults 🙂 If there’s no space like that, now I have to set out my child’s toys on a shared table all around these other adults, and you feel bad because they probably don’t want to hear your child’s music and toys. And that still doesn’t allow the toddler to walk around safely. If OBs could get us in at our scheduled time or limit the wait to 5-15 mins this wouldn’t be an issue at all and I’d have zero problem. It’s the hour long waits that have gotten out of hand when people are sitting in a waiting room with tiny toddlers that NEED to run and play!

I never had to wait an hour for my appointment but if that was a common occurrence I would probably say something about it to the doctor or the staff. Not sure how other offices are ran but usually I never had to wait for more than 15 mins at mine. I would find it absolutely annoying to sit anywhere an hour past my appointment time.

@Elina i agree!! Every single appointment so far i haven’t gone back in under 40 mins. It’s so infuriating. I’ve never said anything to the staff but maybe I should if it happens again. I’ve heard every office in my area is like this too so not even like I can switch 😩

Our office doesn't even allow children inside for appointments and especially not during ultrasounds meaning my husband has to sit in the car with the kids until I'm done because we don't have anyone else to watch them. It sucks.

@Sol that’s terrible. Not everyone has people available to watch our child for every appt. The US is so different from Europe. Europe are so open to children everywhere ♥️